Kneeling bench



y 14; 1929- c. M. WICKSTRUM 1, 2,863

KNEELTNG BENCH Fiied April 6, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 a y 1929- c. WICKSTRUM 1 63 KNEELI NG BENCH May 14, 1929.

C. M. WICKSTRU'M KNEELING BENCH Filed April 6, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet llll I {l II 6421'. Wicias'iflwrrz Patented May 14,1929.

UITED STATES CECIL M. WIGKSTRUM, F OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

KNEELING BENCH.

Application filed April 6,

This invention has reference to burial furniture usually supplied at funeral services, by the undertaker, the priu'iary object of the invention being,' to provide a kneeling bench to be positioned adjacent to the cotlin so that the mourners may kneel in prayer before the coflin.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be readily folded into a smallv and compact article for transportation, and one which may be extended to its active position, with facility.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character wherein the case in which the pads or cushions are held, forms the support for the bench when the lmeeling bench is in its extended position.

l l ith the :t'oregoingg; and other objects in view, which will. appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of consia'uction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made withinv the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

ltteferring to the drawings:

Figure l. is a perspective view illustrating the kneeling bench as in its extended position.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bench when closed.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the kneeling bench when in an extended position.

l ig 'ure 4- is a vertical sectional. view through the kneeling; bench.

lligrure 5 is an enlarged fragmei'ital sectional view 'llustratinp; one of the fastening; devices, the same being taken on line 5 5 of l in'ure 1-.

Figure 6 is an elcvational view of the lzneelinn bench in its open position prior to the moving of the cushions or pads to their active positions.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional. view through the device when folded for carrying".

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view of one of the hinges.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the device includes a pair of box-lilte sections, hingcdlv connected as by means of the hinges 5 and (3 arranged. at the upper and lower edges thereof.

Each of these sections has an open side so 1925. Serial No. 267,396.

that when the sections are moved together the sections will provide a casing.

The sections are indicated generally by the reference characters 7 and 8 respectively, and as shown, each section is provided with a supporting bar 9 arranged in spaced relation with the lower end of the section, as clearly shown by Figure 4-, the supporting bar 9 be mg provided with a recessed portion 10 defining a shoulder to receive the inner edge of the movable knee rest 11 which is connected with the member 9 by means of hinges 12, so that the knee rest 11 may be folded from a position as shown by Figure 7, to its extended position as shown by Figure 4, the shoulder relieving the hinges 12 of undue strain.

The upper surface of the knee rest is supplied with a cushion 13 for the C(Hll'ffil't of the user. The reference character h indicates a supporting member which is hiu redl v connected to the under surface of the knee rest 13 at a point adjacent to the outer edge thereof and is adapted to swing downwardly to a position as shown by Figure 4. to suoport the outer edge of the knee rest. Secured to the member 14L is a heel: i'ucmber 15 adapted to book ever the headed bolt 16. secured to the inwardly foldable side section 17. to se cure the member 14 in an upright position at all times. i i

The reference character 18 designates an elbow pad which is of a width equal to the width of one of the ends of the resins, the same being covered. bv the cloth covering); it), and secured under the end of the section supporting the same, so that it will swine up wardlv and rest on the upper edge of the res ion", 'when the device used bench.

A suitable covering is pcrinai'uuitlv r-iecured to the inner surfaces of the casing, and to the outer and inner surfaces of the movable end members 17', the coverings of the end memhers having: loose extensions 19 that lit over the outer ends of the sections 7 and 8 to cover them, the upper portions of the extensions 19 being-held under the elbow pads 18, so that all of the elements of the kneeling bench rill be covered to lend a pleasing appearance to the device.

A latch indicated at 20 forms a part of the hinge 6, and is adapted to move to a position as shown by Figure 8, to lock the sections of the kneeling bench in their extended positions.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due a li'neeling to the construction shown and described, the knee rests may be folded from a position as shown by Figure 4 and the elbow pads may be swung inwardly, whereupon the sections 17 may be swung to overlie the knee rest and elbow pad and the sections may be moved to their closed positions. v

It will be also be obvious that the device may be readily moved from its closed position to its extended position with facility, and that when the device is in its closed position it may be readily carried "from place to place. V i

It might be further stated that fasteners such as indicated at 21 are provided to hold the sections in their closed positions.

Iclaim: V i V 1. A kneeling bench including a pair of hingedly connected sections, a knee rest forming a part of each section, an elbow pad forming a part of each section, said knee rest and elbow pad adapted to be swung to a position to be housed by the section, and means for holding the sections in their open positions. I v

2. A kneeling bench including a pair of box-like sections, knee rests, hinges for connecting the knee rests within the sections, elbow pads carried by the sections and ad apt ed to normally swing-to position within the sections, means for supporting the knee rests in their active position, and inwardly movable end pieces for engaging the outer ends of the knee rests when the knee rests are in their extended positions.

3. A Jortable kneeling bench including a body portion, formed of pivotally connected box-like members, a wide pivoted member in each of the box-like members and adapted to swing outwardly defining a knee rest, and means for supporting the wide pivoted members in their extended positions.

1-. A portable kneeling bench including pivotally connected sections, a knee rest cured within each section and adapted to swing outwardly to a horizontal position, means for supporting the knee rests in their active positions, and an elbow pad connected with each section and adapted to swing ontwardly to overlie the upper end of each section.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature.

CECIL M. VVIGKSTRUM. 

